More international banks may be keen to obtain the country’s international Islamic banking (IIB) licence as interest in syariah-compliant foreign currency business picks up, experts say.in syariah-compliant foreign currency business picks up, experts say.

“It is also possible to see some interest from Middle Eastern banking groups to obtain this specialised licence,” he told StarBiz.

The IIB licences are offered under the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre initiative which was launched in August 2006 to promote Malaysia as a major hub for international Islamic finance.

Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia is among four banks with the international Islamic banking licence

The licences enable financial institutions to conduct a full range of Islamic banking activities in non-ringgit foreign currency business.

So far, only four banks have obtained the IIB licence – Unicorn International Islamic Bank Malaysia Bhd, PT Bank Syariah Muamalat Indonesia Tbk, Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia and Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, which announced 1, March, 2010 that it had received the licence.

MIDF Research banking analyst Kelvin Ong said other global banks might be interested to use the country as a platform to tap the Islamic banking business in the Asian region.

“There is a possibility that these banks may be interested in obtaining an IIB licence. I am not surprised if this happens,” he said.

Ong said there were also attractive tax incentives offered to banks with IIB licences.

One such incentive is a tax exemption on income earned from international banking and takaful operations conducted in foreign currencies, either as a subsidiary or a branch, until 2016.

In addition, stamp duty exemption is provided for instruments executed on Islamic banking and takaful businesses conducted in foreign currencies until 2016.

Promod said that as the IIB licence was more institutional or corporate in nature and a distinct niche from the mainstream retail Islamic banking, it would help to deepen and broaden the country’s offerings as an international Islamic financial centre.

To be eligible for the licence, a financial institution must be well established and reputable, adopt international banking practices formulated by the Bank for International Settlements or other international standard-setting bodies, be regulated and supervised by a competent home regulatory authority and possess a sound track record.

The IIB entity can be set up as an incorporated company or branch, with the requirements for an incorporated entity to have a minimum paid-up capital of RM10mil and an annual licensing fee of RM50,000.

Thiruvananthapuram: Faced with the criticism that the State Government is “favouring” a particular religion by initiating a Shariah-compliant investment firm, the ruling Left Front Government in Kerala has decided to recast it as an interest-free financial venture.

Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem said in a written reply to Muslim League member C T Ahmed Ali in the State Assembly yesterday that the proposed financial venture had already received Rs42m as contributions from 14 promoters.

The plan was to raise funds from individuals, non-resident Indians, foreign investors and foreign institutional investors (FIIs). Individuals would be eligible for up to 9 percent cent stake and foreign investor 24 percent. Oman-based businessman P Mohammed Ali had chaired the first meeting of the 17-member board of the company a few months back. Doha-based Behzad group Chairman C K Menon is the board vice-chairman. Barring three government officials, 12 directors belong to the Muslim community.

Al Barakah Financial Services Limited was conceived as India’s premier financial institution dealing in Shariah-compliant financial products. “The way we see it it’s another form of venture capital,” Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had said in an interview. “We need long-gestation funds to build airports, high-speed trains and expressways. Islamic finance promises unexplored potential in that context”.

Isaac had said Al Barakah Financial Services Ltd would sell rupee-denominated bonds and create investment funds that complied with Shariah law’s ban on interest. The venture would tap Indian Muslims and money sent home by workers living in Gulf countries.

However, Kerala High Court stayed the proposal for the investment company on a petition filed by former Federal Minister and Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy. Swamy contended that the government had sanctioned the registration of an Islamic Finance company by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) to provide financial services in accordance with Shariah law.

Swamy pointed out that Shariah was the Muslim Personal Law and the functioning of financial company set up with government participation in compliance with Shariah norms was an instance of the state government favoring a particular religion.

“KSIDC is a government organisation and it is clear that it would act under the overall control of the state government. KSIDC has invited applications to fill the top post in the proposed company. The CEO of the proposed Islamic financial company is required to report to the Shariah Advisory Board. This makes it clear that the Board will have some measure of supervision over the proposed company,’’ he said.

Kerala government had set its eyes the Rs370bn NRI deposits with commercial banks in the State, after Ernst & Young, in its feasibility study report, proposed the formation of a non-banking financial company (NBFC) with more funding from Federal and state government agencies.

The firm, through its dedicated arm, would procure capital equipment or property and lease it out under installment plans to clients. The company would be entitled to a share in profits through the mechanism of rent, fixed or variable.